Two Louisiana police officers have been arrested for second degree attempted murder after shooting and killing a six years old child while pursuing his father in an SUV on Tuesday, according to Washington Times.

Norris Greenhouse Jr. and Derrick Stafford fired 18 shots at Christopher Few, who was driving a car. During the shootout, Few survived fatal injuries but Jeremy Mardis, his six year old son, died after being hit by five successive bullets.

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Greenhouse and Stafford were arrested on Friday night after the state police pointed out the evidence. Two other police officers were present at the time of shooting.

"Jeremy didn't deserve to die like this," said Col. Mike Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police.

Edmonson said Jeremy was in the front seat of the car safely buckled in when he was shot. He emphasized that this fatal shooting has smeared the reputation of local enforcement officers.

Early reports indicated that the officers had tried to arrest Few due to an outstanding warrant.

A chase ensued when Few allegedly fled from the officers. The officers only opened fire on the vehicle when Few reached a dead-end street, according to L.J. Mayeux, an Avoyelles Parish coroner.

However, Edmonson pointed out that this is not the case and the main reason why the chase commenced still remains under investigation. Edmonson believes that justice was duly served, but the investigation and due process of the law is still far from over.

Greenhouse and Stafford were both on their second jobs as police marshalls during the shootout. The two officers are yet to release their own statement to investigators.

Jeremy, out of the 17 children shot this year, is considered the youngest victim of a fatal police shootout.

TagsLouisiana, police officers, Arrested, Murder, six year old boy